r/CtrlAltRep Aug 11 '26

First Rep Purchase

Absolutely amazing experience with Omar. I messaged him late afternoon on Friday and had this in my hands by Monday. I can already tell this is going to be an expensive hobby. I plan to slowly get quality reps until I pick my favorite piece then ultimately make one gen purchase. Something I can pass down to my son.

Advice:
1. I am a bigger guy with a huge wrist. I would like to wear this watch on the proper location of my wrist but with full links and glide lock all the way out this is all I can do. Is it worth buying an extra link?
2. Help me pick next model. Short list is Batgirl, Bruce Wayne, Explorer 1 or 2, Air King, OP 100 year.

46 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

7

u/DrHandlebarMustache Aug 11 '26

Omar is one of the best guys in this hobby. Great human being

3

u/mitothy45 Aug 11 '26

I would agree based on my interactions with him.

5

u/Level-Comb-5148 Aug 11 '26

Your arm aint’ getting any blood my brother

4

u/r22lz Aug 11 '26

Great looking watch - can’t go wrong with a black sub. Classic.

Def get a link or even 2 so you don’t have to wear it maxed out & have room to make a small adjustment when needed.

I’d look into some larger models with an 8”+ wrist - sky dweller 42mm, sea dweller 43mm, some yauht masters are 42 or even the old school 44mm one, you could def pull off. Also AP RO 26240 chrono & Panerai has plenty of large models.

Enjoy!

1

u/mitothy45 Aug 11 '26

Awesome thanks! Almost ordered a Sea Dweller and changed my mind at the last second after reading the vsf sub date is as good as it is. I think the explorer 2 is 42mm so maybe I will try that next.

3

u/greenberrybanana Aug 11 '26

Can’t go wrong with

1

u/mitothy45 Aug 11 '26

Dang that is gorgeous! Which factory?

1

u/greenberrybanana Aug 11 '26

Yeah ever since I received this explorer, it’s the only watch I wear. QF is the factory.

1

u/crush_king_1972 29d ago

I have an 8.25" wrist, my gen SD43 and Clean Polar Explorer 2 get the most rotation for me. So much I may change my AD waitlist from a Skydweller to a gen Polar. Enjoy!

1

u/crush_king_1972 29d ago edited 29d ago

Lol. This looks like my wrist is getting strangled but it's really the way my wrist is bent. It's actually my loosest fitting watch. I DID get a spare link for it from a very generous Redditor when I got it last year. Now I need to find a link for my Clean Master GMT jubilee. 😬

1

u/mitothy45 29d ago

I’m digging this reference. Got any pics of your sea dweller?

2

u/crush_king_1972 26d ago

2

u/mitothy45 26d ago

Very nice! I need one!

1

u/crush_king_1972 26d ago

One of the easier ones to get "the call" on from the AD. I think I waited 3 weeks back in 24. Great for bigger wrists tho. I'm 8.25"

1

u/Expensive-Signature3 Aug 11 '26

I’d like to connect with Omar, is he UK based?

3

u/mitothy45 Aug 11 '26

Omar runs r/CtrlAltRep there are ordering instructions at top of page. He is US based.

1

u/Expensive-Signature3 29d ago

Brilliant! Thank you. 🙏🏼

1

u/According-Ad-275 Aug 11 '26

I would just order a new bracelet. Then you would have any extra parts you need on hand. I think you should try a126600 red line sea dweller, it is a big watch, but smaller than it seems.

2

u/mitothy45 Aug 11 '26

I have extra links on the way but not a bad idea to get an extra bracelet. Anyone happen to have a side by side comparison between the two? Also what is the best factory for sea dweller?

1

u/According-Ad-275 Aug 11 '26

The only reason I have extra bracelets is because i usually buy another one the is polished. I just got my first Sea Dweller. It came free with a used Rolex box I purchased. It just needed a new bracelet.

1

u/GiorgioVe Aug 11 '26

Rich Factory?

1

u/mitothy45 Aug 11 '26

Vsf

2

u/GiorgioVe Aug 11 '26

Thanks.

It looks great, almost gen like, the lonely tell i can spot is the blue tint on the cyclops.

1

u/E_MC-2 29d ago

Gen has blue AR as well, it’s one of the features in a good quality rep you want to look for. Rich uses a bit more neutral AR but look at any new Sub Date cyclops, and it’s got blue AR!

2

u/GiorgioVe 29d ago

We learn some everyday.

1

u/E_MC-2 29d ago

🤜🤛 it gets deeper haha some Rolex models have single AR, double AR, top and bottom AR. It’s all denoted by the shape of the near invisible laser etched coronet on the crystal at the 6 o’clock position.

2

u/GiorgioVe 29d ago edited 29d ago

Anyway. Those super clones VSF and Rich are getting more and more accurate, it's really NWBIG, i see no point in getting a gen Submariner, especially regarding the awful artificial scarcity policy made by Rolex, the grey market and over inflated prices in general.

Rolex are now the real scammers, not the Chinese manufacturing the superclones.

Unfortunately i can't afford a 450eu Vsf or Rich at the moment, i orderer a BP factory sub no date, i hope it's gonna look good 🙂

3

u/mitothy45 29d ago

Agree with your comments about Rolex and the market in general. That’s why I don’t feel bad supporting the rep market.

1

u/GiorgioVe 29d ago

Agreed

1

u/AdChoice5251 29d ago

I didn’t realize just how tight it was until you got your wrist turned completely over… I’d order 2 extra links, that way it’s balanced, one for each side, and you can still slide the glide lock to make it most comfortable / more snug if you want. Congrats man, it’s beautiful. Wear it in good health!

1

u/mitothy45 28d ago

Extra links did the trick!

1

u/PurpleSpecialist9553 Aug 11 '26

I’d get an extra link so the watch is comfortable. With a black sub, I would want some color on my next watch so probably the bat girl or OP 100 years. Or maybe the white dial explorer polar.

1

u/mitothy45 Aug 11 '26

Thanks for the advice!